The SAM list (refers to Sibley, Ahlquist & Monroe, its originators) is the
latest list of world birds. It is based on the DNA hybridization studies
of Charles Sibley & Jon Ahlquist and the genus- and species-level taxonomic
judgment of Burt Monroe. There have been some dramatic changes in our
views of the classification and phylogeny (evolutionary relationships) of
birds as a consequence of these studies, although there is still not
agreement which of these changes are in fact justified. This list, which
is available in both a large and detailed book format and a smaller, names
only, check-list, illustrates the changes, in any case.

Even those who do not accept many of the drastic changes in bird
classification made here tend to accept the species-level decisions by Burt
Monroe, so I think this list has great validity. The specific answers to
Neil Fergusson's questions are as follows:

Grey Nightjar is the same as Jungle Nightjar, an Asian species accidental
in the Aleutians.

Mountain Pygmy-Owl is split, in the U.S. southwest and Mexico, from
Northern Pygmy-Owl.

Scaly-naped Pigeon, Azure Gallinule, Nutting's Flycatcher, and
Flame-colored Tanager are Neotropical species recorded as vagrants in North
America (the first from WI to Florida, the gallinule from South America,
and the last two from Mexico to the SW.

Timberline Sparrow is the northern Rocky Mountains form split from Brewer's
Sparrow.

If you tell us about it, Neil, you're not a "closet" lister (unless that
means adding to your life list while sitting in the closet).

One additional comment for Internet neophytes; if you include a Subject
line with your posting, it's easier to respond to it by name.

Dennis Paulson phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416